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points and discovering how to wiggle your ears。 Ah； I see you do not believe it。 And so； my courtly gentlemen； I have arranged a demonstration！〃
She walked to the platform steps and mounted it to the music beat。 The spotlight had followed her and now it fell also upon the two boys who stood there。
She put her hand on the shoulder of Too…Too。 〃This pretty expert has been trained and is much experienced。〃 Too…Too looked at her adoringly； eyes bright in his painted face。 It was obvious that the privilege of being touched by her was almost more than he could bear。
Teenie made a gesture and the two grooms started to strip 〃Too…Too and the son of Snor。
Madison abruptly understood； from his experience on the Blixo； what was about to happen。 〃No！〃 he shrieked。 〃No； Teenie； no！〃
Instantly the guard was in front of him。
The electric axe was huge in Madison's face。
〃Be silent！〃 snarled the guard。
Madison raised his eyes in prayer。 Teenie's voice came to him。 〃Bend over； dear Too…Too；〃 she said。 〃Now； grooms； make the lordling here stand upright behind him and do not let him move。 Not a muscle！〃
The orchestra played devotedly。
The boys behind the rope stared as the colored lights laced across them。 They let out a concerted groan of interest。
〃Too…Too；〃 came Teenie's voice； 〃begin！〃
Madison could not see around the axe。
Madison shifted slightly。 There was a hole in the blade。 He could just see the face of the son of Snor。 It was wreathed in ecstasy。
〃Don't let him move at all！〃 came Teenie's voice。
The bandleader gave a signal and the volume of the music rose。
The boys behind the ropes were standing with their mouths open in amazement。
The bandleader directed for more volume and the heavy throb was making the curtains jump。
Madison tried to see through the hole in the axe。
A boy in the audience said； 〃I don't believe it；〃 in a passion…choked voice。
〃Those grooms are holding him like a statue！〃 said his panion； wide…eyed。
Too…Too's horizontal face held a knowing smile。
The crowd was wide…eyed and panting。
Madison； staring； flinched at a scream of ecstasy from the son of Snor。
A moan went through the hall。 It had the tension of sexual yearning in it； desire that throbbed as heavy as the music beat。
Teenie leaped down off the platform and sprang up the steps to her throne。 The spotlight followed her and she stood； arms raised on high。 The music was louder； heavier。 She began to sway to the rhythm of it； scepter raised on high； golden crown flashing。
Her golden robe fell from her and she stood there swaying while the phallic symbols writhed upon her。
〃Vassals and courtly gentlemen！〃 she cried。 〃Hear my Royal mand！ HAVE AT IT！〃
They gave a thankful shout！ Behind the ropes they fell upon one another like wolves in heat。 The music and marijuana and the tableaux； the pulsing colored lights； had driven them mad with lust that no longer could be restrained。
The air above the roped…off areas was a sudden explosion of castoff jackets and other clothing。
The floor behind the ropes began to sink and with it went the sound of savage music and the lights； the stacks of sweetbuns and sparklewater and the cries of the boys。
A second floor slid over and the crowd was gone。
Chapter 10
Madison knew his time had e。
The servants were rolling the platform away…Too…Too and the lordling had scampered off into the orgy and behind the ropes had begun to hug and kiss。 The big board went and then the throne。
The musician balcony was sliding back into invisibility； for the same piece they had been playing had melted undetectably into recordings which still thumped very faintly from the floor below。
The lights in the room went back to normal。 The marijuana smoke was sucked away by ventilators。 A fresh smell like violets gently replaced it。
Madison cowered in his chair under the watchful eye of Hammer。 Little sparks ran up and down the blade of the electric axe。 Madison cringed back to keep it from touching his chains。
There seemed to be a gathering of the staff。 Men and women in clothes that might be worn by cooks and chambermaids and technicians were drifting in。 Even the musicians that had played joined the collecting throng。 There seemed to be more than a hundred of them； including the seneschals； heralds and guards。 Even the old gardeners came in： one of them had a bouquet of massive flowers。
Madison wondered if they were all there to attend his trial。 It made him acutely unfortable。 Maybe they loved the sight of blood！
Teenie had been talking to some artist…looking fellow and they were now both laughing。 Somebody had taken away her golden cape and replaced it with a plain red cloak that hung about her。
She started to walk toward the staircase that led upward。 Madison felt a sudden surge of hope。 She seemed to have forgotten him entirely： at least with luck he'd live another day。 He tried to make himself very small so as not to attract her attention。
The staff had formed two lines now and Madison understood that they were not there to witness his demise。 This must be some sort of a nightly informal ritual。 Earlier moments might belong to the great Lords； but this was their little gathering； no more than a wishing of good night as they sent her off to bed。
A portly old man； coated in many golden frogs like an officer； probably the major…domo of the place； approached her as she strolled between the two rows of servants。 He dropped to his knee and the whole staff instantly knelt。 She stopped。 He grasped the hem of her robe and pressed it to his lips。 Speaking to the floor； he said； 〃Your Majesty； your staff wishes to thank you for letting them enjoy themselves doing their jobs。〃
Teenie looked all around at them； beaming and pleased。 〃Oh； dear trusted people。 You are so sweet to be among。 I thank you。〃 And she began to name different sections of the staff； thanking each personally。 Then she cried； 〃I love you all！〃
They gazed at her with adoring eyes。 The major…domo was about to say something else when a squabble broke out。 Six women who； from their uniforms； were maids； were hissing and snarling at each other。
An old woman； stern and beautifully uniformed； was at them at once； speaking to them sharply for causing a disturbance。 The major…domo went over to them。
It developed that they were having a dispute as to which two of the six should take the night watch and put Teenie to bed。 It was quite bitter。 It seemed that some of them had been switching watches。 The major…domo pointed with authority at two of them whose watch it really was： they would take it！ This pair stood promptly taller； their faces very proud。 And then they suddenly stuck their tongues out at the other four and raced upstairs to get Teenie's bath ready。 The abashed four； who had sought to interlope； looked at Teenie and knelt with both knees on the floor with a trace of fear。 She smiled at them and they let out a sigh and then smiled back。 It struck Teenie funny and she threw them a kiss and began to laugh。 The whole staff began to laugh。 Then； 〃Long Live Your Majesty！〃 they cried。
Teenie opened her mouth to tell them all good night when the guard captain in flashing silver caught her attention and pointed way over to the wall where Madison cowered。
（Ble